Jacksonville Beach, FL Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Article III of Chapter 21 of the Jacksonville Beach Code, sections 21-41 through 21-44, regulates aggressive solicitation. The City Council found in § 21-41 that the increase in aggressive solicitation had become extremely disturbing and disruptive to residents and businesses and had contributed to an enhanced sense of fear, intimidation and disorder. It enacted the article under its police power, citing Chapter IX of the City Charter and Section 166.021, Florida Statutes, and § 21-41(d) states that the law is not intended to limit anyone's constitutional right to solicit funds, picket, protest or engage in other constitutionally protected activity.

Section 21-42 defines the terms. To solicit means to request an immediate donation of money or other thing of value, regardless of the solicitor's purpose or intended use. A public area includes alleys, bridges, buildings, driveways, parking lots, parks, playgrounds, plazas, sidewalks and streets open to the general public. An aggressive manner covers six kinds of conduct: touching another person without consent; following the person being solicited with intent or likelihood to cause fear of imminent bodily harm or to intimidate; continuing to solicit within five (5) feet after a negative response under the same fear or intimidation test; blocking safe or free passage or forcing a person or driver to take evasive action; using obscene or abusive language or gestures; and approaching in a manner intended or likely to cause fear or intimidation. Lawful picketing or protest does not count as obstruction.

Section 21-43 then lists five prohibited places and methods: aggressive solicitation in a public area; solicitation in a public transportation vehicle, bus, station or stop; solicitation within fifteen (15) feet of any entrance or exit of a bank or check cashing business, or of an automated teller machine, during operating hours and without the consent of the owner or person in possession, measured from the entrance of the facility where a machine sits inside an automated teller machine facility; solicitation on private property where the owner, tenant or lawful occupant has asked the person not to solicit or posted a sign; and solicitation of drivers in traffic, including offers to clean windows or to reserve or point out a parking space. The only carve-out is services rendered in connection with emergency repairs requested by the operator or passengers.